Summer was too short for these two…I do realize they get many school breaks throughout the year, a week or two at a time, but I also see how much a good long summer break can add to one’s childhood. Sleeping in, playing outside, no homework, no lunches to pack, staying up way pass your bedtime (till 10 pm sometime since it’s still light outside!)—that’s a real summer treat.
Nevertheless…on September 4th, the boys had to go back to school. They were super excited, of course! And I was excited with them. I love watching them experience these new things, meeting new friends, adjusting to new routines, learning to live life (and fail sometime) and make new memories.
We have been biking to school most of the days this last month (as I am writing this, it’s already October). The boys love biking! It doesn’t take much longer than driving, and it’s more convenient. And this year, September has been amazingly warm, so they have been able to wear shorts to school almost every day.
So this little guy is in Year 1 now.
This is his second year of school, but he’d be officially in Kindergarten (just starting school) in the states right now. His teacher is Ms. Machen. He loves her! Since our village school has two classes for each grade, the administration mixes those classes up each year. That means you get some friends that you had from your current year and some friends who were in your parallel class. Mark is excited to be making new friends and be done with “baby stuff”. He also begged me to let him have school lunch every day—they are free for all children under 8 years old in Cambridgeshire starting this year. Although these lunches are not as horrible as they are on base, I still only let him “buy” it three times a week and send a home lunch on Wednesday and Friday (Friday is fish finger day-gross!).
Mark is still doing swimming every week, and just started tennis (which he LOVES!). During winter months, he’ll try out basketball on base now, since he is five. I am also slowly teaching him piano until he is ready for real lessons.
“I hate being the youngest”…says Mark.
Now this guy is one happy boy! He loves school! He loves it mostly because he succeeds often, I am sure. He is never afraid to challenge himself and thrives on being extraordinary.
His goal this year is to receive a Platinum award again (that’s the highest you can get) for achievements throughout the year. He was also hoping to go another year without getting a Red Card….but during his second week at school, he forgot his PE kit at home (it was on Monday, and PE kits get sent home to get washed every Friday, but they have to come back to school on Monday). He was so embarrassed and disappointed. I was feeling bad and sad with him, but at the same time, this was a good lesson to learn when it’s not a huge deal yet. I don’t believe he should have gotten a Red Card for this actually, but there is no way, I’d tell him that. I am an advocate for my children, but most of all, I need to teach them to respect the rules and teachers who make them, although sometimes they don’t like them.
Oh yeah, Alex is in Year 5! That’s an equivalent of the Fourth Grade in the states. I am amazed at how much writing they do this year. Alex is really good at his literacy and spelling. And of course, Maths…it drives Robert crazy that it’s MathS-hahaha. Alex is also in choir and orchestra at school.
After school, Alex has swimming once a week, takes piano lessons(and actually likes it more than Katya), goes to Cub Scouts on base and activity days for boys (weekly activity for boys at our church). And during November-February he’ll be playing basketball on base.
Good luck, boys in your new school year! Make it a great one!
Lyana.
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